West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
While Satterlee House owner William Conner is pursuing his development-rights appeal on five main points, only one of those points was spotlighted in oral arguments this morning before the state’s second-highest court: “Whether the city’s landmarks ordinance is unconstitutionally vague,” as Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill described it. The arguments went quickly – as we noted in the morning preview from the Court of Appeals-Division 1 courtroom at One Union Square downtown, each side gets 10 minutes, and a digital clock tracks the time in glaring red illumination – starting just after 10 am, and concluding, with some questions from the judges along the way, just before 10:30. Read on for details (and backstory if you haven’t followed this case before):Read More
Highland Park has two active community groups. We’ve written the most in recent months about the Highland Park Action Committee, as its members tackled tough topics including the proposed municipal jail, but the Highland Park Improvement Club is not to be underestimated. HPIC met tonight in their namesake building – same place HPAC meets, incidentally – and installed new officers – you see the team above: Ken Knoke, Kay Kirkpatrick, Julie Schickling, Nickie Jostol, Rhonda Smith, Gretchen Heiden, Bette Spry, Bill Jaback, Rory Denovan, Greg Harrington. (HPIC celebrates its 90th anniversary this fall; here’s the history page on its website.)
Thanks to JH for sharing the sunset photo. The Hall at Fauntleroy, where the 34th District Democrats‘ candidate forum just wrapped up in the past half hour, is a lovely place, but no westward view. We’re working now on stories wrapping up loose ends from some of the one-of-a-kind events we covered today and tonight; stay tuned.
This is the epicenter of Seattle politics tonight – The Hall at Fauntleroy, where the 34th District Democrats are hosting their big candidates’ forum — all major races except King County Executive (that race was handled with a separate forum across the street at Fauntleroy Church [WSB sponsor] last week). The major candidates for mayor are all here – including incumbent Greg Nickels, Councilmember Jan Drago, Michael McGinn, Joe Mallahan, James Donaldson, Norman Sigler. If there are any fireworks during the meeting, we’ll add them here – otherwise look for the detailed report later (we’ll also be tweeting from time to time at @wsblive rather than our regular Twitter account). The first few minutes focused on the mayoral race, with yes/no questions – notably, “Do you support parking meters in The Junction?” Nickels no, Drago yes. ADDED 8:05 PM: The mayoral section of the forum is over, no fireworks. Questions included support for labor, philosophy on transportation and helping the homeless. “Nickelsville” only came up when Mallahan alluded to it but said he would only call it a “tent city” because anything else “wouldn’t be fair.”
Lots of state and city experts here waiting to answer your questions and listen to your thoughts regarding the new plan for replacing the Central Waterfront section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct — the sun’s streaming through the west-facing wall of windows at the Madison Middle School compound. Among those here in the early going, two of West Seattle’s three representatives on the South Portal working group that’s hashing out some of the access issues, Pete Spalding (left) and Vlad Oustimovitch:
Also here now, Mark Wainwright of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, who is on the Central Waterfront working group (as is another West Seattleite, Chas Redmond). You can leave a written comment here, or say your comment out loud to a transcriber who is standing by waiting to listen (and type). As Kristy Van Ness from WSDOT explains, they want to hear your concerns about the plan, to help shape the “scope” of the environmental impact studies before anything is built — that’s why this is called a “scoping” meeting. In case you can’t make it here tonight, we’ll add info in a bit on the other ways you can contribute your comments; the draft environmental-impact report isn’t due out till early next year. Also at the event: The campaign to get an anti-tunnel measure on the ballot – still collecting signatures till next month.
The heart of festival season is getting closer – the Morgan Junction Community Festival is coming up this Saturday, with the new park’s dedication at 10 am, followed by festival fun 11 am-6 pm – and now another festival that’s just a few weeks away is putting out an invitation to participants: The High Point Diversity Festival has booths available for businesses and community groups. Read on —Read More
Today we welcome Darling Skincare & Sugaring as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they want to share about their business: Vanessa is excited to bring sugaring to West Seattle! 
Sugaring is an all-natural way to remove unwanted hair. It differs from traditional waxing methods in that it is applied lukewarm so it never burns the skin. This gentle application removes hair at all stages of growth (no little prickles the following week!) and caters to sensitive skin while tackling the coarsest follicles with ease. It is simply the best way to say goodbye to hair that you don’t want around! Darling Skincare & Sugaring offers a full range of organic skincare as well. They offer visible results for a variety of skin conditions including acne treatment and anti-aging care, and also features professional relaxation services. Vanessa would like to thank West Seattle for welcoming her to the area, adding that she discovered where the hip professionals have gone! As a Seattle native from Phinney Ridge, Vanessa appreciates the sense of community she found in her new neighborhood. Darling Skincare & Sugaring also provides bridal and permanent make-up services, and offers gift certificates for any occasion. Darling Skincare & Sugaring is located at 3620 California Avenue SW (map), 206-930-0823, and online at darlingskincare.com.
We welcome Darling Skincare & Sugaring to the WSB sponsor team; the latest lineup is here, along with information on how to grow your business by becoming part of it!
Kim has posted flyers about this around her High Point neighborhood but also wanted to share the word here:
My home in the new High Point neighborhood was recently broken into and my entire collection of over 35 years of SW Native American turquoise, silver coral and black onyx jewelry (bracelets, earrings, and rings), grandmother’s diamond ring, a queen-size pendleton blanket (creme, red, orange and yellow Native cross design), and four bottles of insulin with ice packs were stolen. A police report has been filed … If you have seen any of these items or have knowledge of possible whereabouts,
please contact nativekulturz@yahoo.com
When new bricks are installed at the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, 
tribute plaques will be installed too – and one of them will feature the inscription you see above, in memory of JB Webster, the local real-estate agent, community volunteer and Seafair Commodore whose death shocked the community in April. (Original WSB coverage, with dozens of tribute comments, is here.) That’s according to his widow Christi Webster, who talked with us recently about it – she says it’ll be next to a plaque honoring Gregory Johnson, who recently piloted the space shuttle Atlantis, and that means two WSHS alums will be side by side. Christi told us the location is perfect because of her husband’s roots:
She says the wording for the plaque was created with the help of a family friend who’s a poet/writer, reworking part of what Christi read at her husband’s memorial (WSB coverage here). The Junction Keller Williams Realty office where she works as operations manager – where JB worked as an agent – will have a private fundraising event July 15 to help cover the cost of the plaque. As she summarizes, “JB’s roots are at Alki. So this is the perfect way to honor his wonderful spirit.”
(photo courtesy “RogerTango”)
It’s not in West Seattle, but “RogerTango” from the WS-based Westenders Scooter Club wants to extend the invite to all local riders – and potential riders – to scoot across the bridge for this:
Just a quick reminder that All City Scooter Day #2 will be happening at Scoot About! (535 Westlake Avenue N.) this Saturday from 12 – 2pm. This community event promotes scooters as a viable and fun means of alternative transportation around the city! Check out many different makes and models of scooters, learn how a scooter can be an excellent alternative to a car, and you may even go home with a brand new scooter which will be given away during the event! This event is supported by West Seattle’s own Westenders Scooter Club , which had a scooter display at the (Sustainable West Seattle Festival) last month in the Junction!
Update on the public-safety-focused forum tomorrow in Burien:
Dow Constantine
Ross Hunter
Susan Hutchison
Fred Jarrett
Larry Phillips
all have confirmed, according to organizers. Here’s the announcement again:
The King County Police Chief’s Association is hosting a County Executive Candidate’s Forum on Thursday, June 11th. The candidates running for King County Executive are invited to the forum, which is open to the public and press.
The Police Chief’s Association is comprised of the 34 King County police chiefs, the Sheriff, corrections professionals, as well as state and federal criminal justice partners.
The goal of the candidate’s forum is for each candidate to present their vision for public safety and the criminal justice system in King County. Questions from the chiefs will be asked of the candidates.
WHEN: Thursday, June 11, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AMWHERE; Criminal Justice Training Center’
19010 – 1st Avenue South
Burien, WA
(2008 WSHS ceremony @ Memorial Stadium, where WSHS and CSHS both graduate this year)
Just in case you were wondering:
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: 5 pm tomorrow, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL: 7:30 pm tomorrow, SLHS gym.
CHIEF SEALTH HIGH SCHOOL: 1 pm Saturday, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.
MIDDLE COLLEGE (NON-TRADITIONAL), SOUTH CAMPUS: 7 pm next Wednesday (6/17), Brockey Center at SSCC.
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: 7:30 pm next Thursday (6/18), Brockey Center at SSCC
And since of course many West Seattle teens attend other schools; here’s the full list of Seattle Public Schools graduation dates/times/places.
Almost 20 years in Seattle news, and there’s always a first. Today: Our first time in the 1st Division, Washington Court of Appeals, 2nd-highest court in the state, which hears cases at One Union Square downtown. 
The case to be argued within the next hour or so: Satterlee House owner William Conner‘s appeal of a King County Superior Court ruling last October (WSB coverage here) upholding the city decision in April 2008 (WSB coverage here) not to let him proceed with a specific proposal for three 2,000-ish-square-foot homes on the lawn of the Beach Drive house also known as “The Painted Lady” (photo left). We do not have permission to photograph here but can tell you by means of scene-setting: This is homier than the usual courtroom; the gallery where lawyers and spectators are sitting has padded bench seating and windows with natural light. Two cases are on the docket before Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill and city lawyer Judy Barbour – who have been on this case all along – get their turn before the panel of three judges, who are sitting in a raised area reminiscent of City Council chambers. (Both already are here – Hill with Conner – seated, waiting, on opposite sides of the courtroom.) Each side in each case gets 10 minutes for their oral arguments – and there’s no messing around – there’s a digital countdown clock, illuminated in red, in front of where the lawyers stand, and once a lawyer begins, it counts down from 10:00. (Of course, plenty of written casework has been submitted well in advance; this is a supplement to that, and a chance for the judges to ask questions, as we are seeing with the first case under way here this morning.) We’ll report later on what’s said here, and what happens next; the audio from the hearing also should be posted later here. 11 AM UPDATE: Arguments were over by 10:30; full story to come – no rulings today – will be checking on a likely timeframe.
Highlights from the WSB Events calendar:
LANDMARK COURT FIGHT: This morning in the Court of Appeals, 1st Division, both sides in the Satterlee House court fight get 10 minutes each for oral arguments in the two-year fight over proposed homebuilding on the landmark Beach Drive home’s lawn.
TUNNEL TALK: 6-8 pm tonight at Madison Middle School, it’s your next chance to comment on the future of the Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct corridor. Specifically, the city, state and federal governments want to hear what you think should be included in the “environmental” studies before the deep-bore tunnel can be built – but that doesn’t just mean ecological impacts. The open-house format meeting also will include displays of the latest information on the project and people who can answer whatever question you have about what’s on the drawing board and how it’ll affect the way you get around.
CANDIDATES’ FORUM: 7 pm tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, West Seattle’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats, will host candidates for every major job except County Executive (since they faced off last week across the street). It’s a prelude to their endorsement vote at next month’s meeting, but it’s your best chance this summer to get a look at the candidates in the crowded races that will be narrowed down to two in August.
(added 10:56 am) HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: HPIC meets tonight at its HQ, with potluck/social hour at 6:30 pm, meeting including installation of new officers at 7 pm.
Our first report on Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting focused on a progress report regarding the upcoming summer concert series. Now, more from the meeting, much of which focused on a presentation about the draft Seattle Pedestrian Master Plan, an agenda item on many of the community meetings we’ve covered lately – and important because you have until next Monday (June 15) to comment on it. On behalf of the city, consultant Peg Staeheli summarized the plan’s key points; as noted before, the PMP is an online document, and as Staeheli put it, it’s worth taking some time to “wander” through the plan. It’s not only about the walkability of local neighborhoods, however – “maintenance is a huge issue,” she observed, which in turn means education of home and business owners regarding their liability for making sure the sidewalks around their properties are usable. (Did you know that whatever’s growing over your sidewalk needs to be cleared for 8 feet of headroom?) The city’s ideal street is a “complete street,” Staeheli added, saying that Morgan/Sylvan through High Point is an example — with landscaping, pedestrian features, and other components. The pedestrian-planning process was more than document creation, she added, saying that city programs/divisions are working together more than ever, looking for opportunities such as the current Fauntleroy road work, which has been preceded by curb cut/ramp creation along much of the stretch that will be repaved. Also from the meeting, Ann Limbaugh from Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral had a quick update on California Place Park, reminding attendees that a celebration of the just-concluded design process is set for one week from this Saturday. The design report from architect Karen Kiest will be made public then, she said.
From WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in the Admiral District – a sale, and a theme, kicking off tomorrow night for the Art Walk:
West Seattle Artwalk opening Thursday Jun 11th, 6 – 9pm
featuring the authors of Seattle based Mixed Greens blog
www.mixedgreensblog.comClick! Design That Fits welcomes authors/photographers Sally Shintaffer and Poppy Barach. Their “locavore” blog is an ongoing tour of the many opportunities to keep a small footprint by truly living locally in the Pacific Northwest. The walls of Click! will be adorned with portraits of edibles featured in Mixed Greens blog posts. Both Sally and Poppy have a gentle photographic style that unveils the beauty of the summer harvest.
The evening will also include in-store give aways, a sampling of recipes featured on their blog including a tasty seasonal cocktail and their photography which will be available for purchase during the entire month of June.
June Sale At Click! beginning during the West Seattle Artwalk
Fresh & Local Design– share the beauty — all Mixed Greens fresh photo cards — 20% off
– shlep your fresh veggies with out a motor — market trolleys — 20% off
– ideas for your newly fresh kitchen — farm fresh Chronicle book — 20% off
– designed in South Park and poured in Georgetown — urbancase “transistor” and “polaroid” beeswax candles to illuminate your local meal — 20% off
– and just because – sustainably harvested cork jewelry designed and made at Click! — 20% off
– no more bulky grocery bags — envirosax — $9.50 each, 4 for $32
– posh plates to showcase your new found freshness — working class studio veggie plates — $9 each, 4 for $32
Thanks to Lashanna for making sure we had this – the closing ceremony for the school building that’s been home to Pathfinder K-8 for more than a decade:
Genesee Hill Closing Ceremony
Saturday June 13 – 10am-2pmThe Pathfinder K-8 program will permanently move to the Cooper Elementary Building in September 2009. Join Pathfinder alumni, staff past & present, and friends to say good-bye to Pathfinder’s home of 14 years, the Genesee Hill Building. Food, activities, and a Closing Ceremony will be part of this special day.
Here’s the announcement from ArtsWest:
What: CSI: Seattle – Crime Scene Improv
When: Thursday & Friday, June 11 & 12, 8:00pm
Price: $10
Where: ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery
4711 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98116
www.artswest.orgBox Office: Tickets at the door only
KRAM Improv presents CSI: Seattle – Crime Scene Improv, a fast-paced improvised crime comedy about a team of investigators who use both bleeding-edge science and old-fashioned police know-how to solve crimes.
Inspired by the popular television series, CSI: Seattle – Crime Scene Improv invites the audience to follow criminals, cops and other low-lifes through a different mystery each night. With the savoir-faire of Inspector Clouseau and the subtlety of David Caruso, the intrepid team solves the crimes (usually) and avenges the victims (even when they maybe don’t deserve it).
KRAM is made up of: Angela Bennett, Alex Dittmar, Rachel Jackson, Megan Nyce and Matt Williams.
Here’s the official announcement:
Friday, June 19, 6:30 – 8, Speaker Event at West Side Presbyterian Church
3601 California Avenue SW
Dessert and coffee at 6:30
Presentation at 7:00Have you wondered lately ‘how are teens handling this global society’? Teens will
always see things differently than adults but the “lenses” teens see through are
quite different today now due to globalization, affluence, and instant/faceless
communication. Chris O’Shaughnessy, an international speaker and comedian, is
coming to West Seattle to share what he has learned over the past decade from
working with teens and building stronger communities. He will share insight and
background into what he has learned about the current generation of teens’
worldview. Come to learn to understand where teens are coming from, to interact in
a more effective way and to translate what they want for teens into terms teens can
appreciate.
A few notes from Tuesday night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting: 
Gary Dawson briefed the board on Monday night’s Washington State Ferries community meeting in Port Orchard. His quick summary of what WSF boss David Moseley told those on hand: Good news, no foreseeable cuts in service in the near future; bad news, with continuing state money trouble, there are no foreseeable improvements in service either. Dawson also discussed the city’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan, which has been a topic at many recent community meetings, since citizen comments are being accepted now; FCA plans to take outreach action to make sure its members let the city know their opinion about where in Fauntleroy sidewalk improvements are and are not needed – deadline for comments on the plan is next Monday (here’s how to comment). Also at the meeting: FCA president Bruce Butterfield shared the letter the group had promised to write in support of Fauntleroy Community Services Agency‘s ongoing work to buy the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse from Seattle Public Schools; Lynn Olson noted that Night Out signup is under way online (as noted earlier in our report on Pigeon Point’s Monday night meeting); and it was mentioned that Arbor Heights Elementary‘s school carnival is this Saturday (3 pm). For more information on the Fauntleroy Community Association and what’s happening in the community, check out fauntleroy.net.
Two door-to-door alerts in one night – this one’s from Chris in the Beach Drive area:Read More
(video lost due to blip.tv shutdown)
From tonight’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting: The ANA’s first-ever summer concert series (first reported here in April) is taking shape – with two bands lined up, four to go (and 20 possibilities from which to choose!), according to Katy Walum, who’s coordinating the series. The series of concerts on the lawn east of Hiawatha Community Center is set to start July 23rd, continuing every Thursday night through August 27th; the bands lined up so far are Tom Colwell and the Southbound Odyssey – who headlined the recent Pete Seeger 90th-birthday celebration at the Admiral Theater – and the West Seattle Big Band (shown above in a WSB clip from their performance at last year’s summer concert series at The Mount). ANA also is busy lining up sponsors to cover the costs of the free series, and is about three-fourths of the way to its goal (if you’re interested in being a sponsor, you can e-mail katy.walum@gmail.com). The working name for the concert series: Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, and you’ll hear a lot more about it as the summer progresses. (More later on other topics the Admiral group discussed tonight.)
6-8 pm tomorrow at Madison Middle School, it’s your next major chance to find out — and speak out — about the plan to replace the Central Waterfront section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct with a deep-bored tunnel. Reps from the state Transportation Department (which is advertising the meeting on WSB to help get the word out) and other involved agencies/departments will be on hand both to answer your questions and to take your comments, to help shape the environmental-studies process required before tunnel-building can begin. It’s open-house format, so drop by any time between 6 and 8. And remember it’s not just about the tunnel itself – these meetings also offer information about component projects (such as the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project taking shape alongside the east section of the West Seattle Bridge). In the meantime, three working groups continue meeting to discuss specifics regarding how the tunnel and other components of the “transportation corridor” will work — read on for the latest on what they’re up to:Read More
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